Build on it!
(A Collaborative Writing Activity)
Looking for an exciting way to spark collaboration and creativity in your class? Look no further than Build On It! This dynamic activity is for narrative writing, persuasive writing, or even encouraging students share their thoughts and feedback. The possibilities are endless—let your imagination soar!
How To Use
What is Build on It?
It’s a collaborative relay race for writing. Instead of one person writing a whole piece, the entire class builds multiple pieces of work simultaneously by passing their "digital paper" around.
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How Do I Use It?
Step 1: The Launch
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Enter your Master Prompt. This could be the start of a story ("The door creaked open...") or a persuasive claim ("Electric scooters should be banned in CBDs because...").
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Click Create Lobby. You will receive a 4-digit PIN to display on your projector.
Step 2: Joining the Mix
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Students join via their devices using the PIN and a nickname.
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Teacher Tip: Encourage students to use their real name for accountability!
Step 3: The Build Phase
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Once you click Start Writing, every student gets a fresh workspace.
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Switching: When you feel the momentum is right (or the timer hits zero), click Switch Stories!.
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The Magic: The work rotates. Student A's work goes to Student B. Student B's work goes to Student C.
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Read-Only History: Students can see the previous segments in the sidebar to understand the context, but they cannot edit them. They can only add the next layer.
Step 4: The Reveal & Export
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When you click Finish, the "Full Build" travels back to the original author.
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Students step through a high-contrast slideshow of the journey.
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Use the Export to PDF button to save the work for marking, portfolios, or classroom displays.